LET'S TALK ABOUT HAIR.

I am not one of those girls who is super-attached to her hair, which I think is a good thing: There is a lot of other stuff I get worked up about, and my hair does not need to be part of that. Over the past couple of years, it's been really long, really short, mid-length, layered, un-layered, dyed ombre and dyed back to its natural color. I've never done anything really dramatic, like dye it blonde or chop it into a pixie, but my philosophy is basically, "It's just hair. It'll grow back."

That said, I have discovered that my hair looks best in a shoulder-length-or-slightly-above bob, and I've actually kept it that length for almost a year, which is a big deal for me. Unfortunately, something I have not yet discovered is exactly what to do from a styling standpoint: My impetus is always to straighten it, but my hair's naturally wavy texture plus the Florida humidity equals some interesting hair behavior on days when the weather's not perfect.

I'm going to see my stylist, Niki, soon, so I've been doing some Pinterest reconaissance, and I think for the first time ever I'm going to ask Niki to show me how to style my hair so that it looks good with waves as opposed to flat-ironing it into submission. Here are my inspiration photos. 

Do you have a love/hate relationship with your hair? Do you put a lot of effort into it, or do you just let it do what it wants? And yes, I realize this post is 100 percent frivolous, but sometimes those are the most fun!

P.S. The other question I'm forever asking myself when it comes to hair: Bangs or no bangs?

Photos via

SHOPPING VINTAGE.

Wearing vintage clothing is one of those things I've always wanted to do, but never felt I could pull off (I've written about this here before). For starters, let me just say that all my clothes should probably be tailored: I have broad shoulders, a short torso and big boobs, but I can generally find stuff that works off the rack in regular "modern" bricks-and-mortar and online stores. Not so with vintage clothes; to begin with, the clothes' material and lengths are quite different, and so whenever I trry anything on I'd often end up looking like the queen of Planet Frump. Not great. But I've always loved the shapes and patterns on vintage clothing, and often find myself perusing vintage Etsy shops and wishing I could wear the clothes I see—or purchasing vintage-inspired clothing at stores like Anthropologie.

But then I read Joy's post about making vintage clothing work for your body type, and how she has almost every vintage piece she owns tailored. The "before" and "after" photos are pretty striking—a simple hem makes such a difference—and so many vintage pieces do have such great prints. So I started perusing Etsy shops and actually ended up buying a couple of well-priced skirts with pretty patterns that will probably just need to be hemmed. My tailor lives within walking distance of my house and is really reasonably priced, so I'm excited to see the difference her work makes with my treasures.

Also, one thing I've discovered in just the little while I've been Etsy vintage shopping: While there are really delightful pieces out there, not all vintage is pretty. Remember the '80s and '90s, people? I do, and with a few exceptions, I don't have a whole ton of desire to revisit that clothing. Vintage shopping, even online, requires sifting. I'm not great at that, but the results seem to be worth it.

Do you guys wear vintage? More important, do you get your clothes altered? Do you love the difference it makes?

Photos from the sweet vintage shop This Vintage Girl.

JOIE SPRING 2014.

Some pretty for your Monday: Loving these looks (and the hair, makeup and overall styling) from Joie's 2014 spring ready-to-wear collection. (So weird to think about spring fashion when it's almost fall but still feels like summer here!)

Photos via style.com 

Emerson Fry.

Let's just put it out there: I am a sucker for Emerson Fry. I'm not even quite sure why, because—real talk—I ordered a shirt from a past collection and was very unimpressed with the construction (even though the design was really pretty); I actually ended up exchanging and finally returning it.

But then every season, the EF lookbook comes out and I am smitten with each piece (hi, pink coat). So here I am again, thinking the same thing I do every time I go to write this post: "I don't know if I'd order from Emerson Fry again, but gosh, these pieces—and the way they're styled—sure are pretty."

Sigh. Anyone ever experience similar feelings about this kind of thing?

P.S. Not trying to throw this brand under the bus; just sharing some honest feelings about my experience. xoxo

Pop of pink.

Thanks to my recent birthday, I acquired a stash of gift cards—one of them to Sephora (which, happily, recently opened a mini-store in one of our malls, meaning I don't have to trek to Tampa or pay shipping fees these days). I'd been wanting a hot pink lipstick for awhile, and I'd been vacillating between NARS' Schiap and Funny Face, so last week, after a post-work appointment, I stopped by Sephora to test out the colors. I ended up going with Funny Face, but Schiap was really nice, too, and I kind of wish I'd bought it. So needless to say, there might be two bright-pink lipsticks in my life very soon—a nice change from my usual red.

Do you wear lipstick every day? I find that when I do, it brightens up both my pale, pale, pale face and my spirit—but sometimes I'm just too lazy to put it on!

Photo: My own. 

Found: The perfect striped top for fall.

...from Charleston, S.C.-based Troubadour. (Seriously, I'm in love with this shirt and that grosgrain bow detail—on my wishlist for sure, sigh.) In fact, the whole fall/winter line—created by former Madewell designer Lindsey Carter and photographed by Olivia Rae James—is pretty perfect. See it here.

Imaginary outfit: Summer wedding

I love this outfit for a summer wedding, and I realized after I put it together that it's kind of a fancier version of the sightseeing outfit I posted a week ago—they both feature similar feminine-but-muted colors, the exact same shoes and sunglasses, you get the drift. But seriously, isn't that dress perfect for warm summer nights? It looks like it would move beautifully. And flat sandals may not be appropriate for every wedding, but for the one I'm going to, they totally are. Add a gorgeous clutch (perfect for holding that pretty lipgloss and the sunglasses when the sun goes down) and a splash of my new favorite perfume and you're all set. I'd wear this in a heartbeat. (Click the image for all the shopping credits.) 

Hooray for summer. 

Signature scent: An update.

A few months ago, I wrote about my quest to find a "signature scent"—a perfume I loved so much that I could wear it every day. I also mentioned that I'd been wearing Dior's J'Adore in the meantime, since I'd been gifted a full-size bottle of it at a charity event and it functioned as a perfectly suitable signature scent stand-in. (And yes, using fancy free perfume while searching for a signature scent is definitely a first world problem.) And because I know you're on the edges of your seats wondering whether my perfume dilemma has been solved, I'll tell you right now that no, it hasn't. (Cue sad trombone.)

I've always been attracted to scents that remind me of Florida—orange blossom, for example, or gardenia. I've been dying to get my hands on a sample of this Coqui Coqui orange blossom perfume ever since I read about it on The Littlest Blog awhile back, but I've also been hesitant to take the plunge and spend money on it because I don't know if I'll like it, or that it won't fade or smell weird on my skin or give me a headache (which has been known to happen).

So I'd kind of resigned myself to the idea of using the J'Adore and that being the end of it, until I happened to spritz on some of Estee Lauder's Tuberose Gardenia the other day while out shopping with my friend Kate. You guys, I sprayed it on, rubbed my wrists together, and then proceeded to sniff myself every 15 minutes or so for the rest of the night. The gardenia scent is so true, and best of all, it lingered for a good long while. The lovely woman at the perfume counter was nice enough to gave me a sample to take home, so I can use it for the next few days before deciding if I want to buy it, but trust me, it's really great. Signature scent found? Finally, finally, the answer may be yes.

Any scents you're loving lately? Please share—I'd love to hear!

Photo: My own. 

Budget makeup find: Sonia Kashuk blush.

I've talked here before about my love of NARS' blush—Orgasm has been my go-to for years because it's seriously the perfect peachy pink. I love it; in fact, I'm currently trying to coax every powdery drop out of my almost-empty tray.

That said, at $25 a pop, NARS blush is not cheap, and I am not always able to get to Sephora to pick up a refill (I could order online but why pay shipping, you know?). So I present to you Sonia Kashuk's Beautifying Blush in Flushed, which rings in at under $10 and whose color, I'm finding, is an excellent reflection of its name. It's bright, so you don't need a lot, but it does the job. Pretty and inexpensive? Win/win.

Photo credit unknown; please let me know if you know it and I'll update!

Flamingo dress.

I'm going to San Diego for my little brother's wedding at the end of this month, and while I have plenty of dresses in my own closet that I can wear, I am smitten with this flamingo-print shift dress (left) from Anthropologie. The wedding's on a boat at sunset, and my brother and his groomsmen are going jacketless and wearing khakis, so I think the whimsical print and easy cut of the dress would fit right in. (There's just something delightfully kitschy and Old Florida about it, too.) Would you wear it?

A touch of lace.

Friends, I am a girl who loves lace, so I am totally smitten with these looks from Valentino's 2014 resort show—aren't they so pretty and feminine? And while I don't currently have a need for a glamorous pink ballgown, like the one shown in the third photo, I do love the idea of a lacy top with jeans, or lace shorts with a casual T-shirt. Such an easy way to dress up an everyday outfit...

All photos via Style.com 

Skincare: An update.

I mentioned in a recent post that, thanks to a series of fortunate events, I got my first facial from my wonderful aesthetician Renata last week, and aside from some kind of gross-but-apparently-natural (?!) peeling that took place afterward, thanks to a potion she put on my face that made my face feel like it was being repeatedly stung by bees, my skin has never felt better. In fact, it's has been in much better shape in general since I started seeing Renata, so I thought I'd share what's been working for me lately and some of her tips. (Real talk: I feel kind of superficial writing this post, but I also love talking about this stuff, so...here we go.)

Pink lipstick.

I've written before about how pretty red lipstick can be (and what a mood booster it is), but lately I've been thinking about trying a bright pink shade. So pretty for spring, right? I've been doing some research and NARS' Carthage and Funny Face shades look like exactly what I'm looking for (although I have it on good authority that Revlon's Moondrops line is an equally awesome and cost-effective alternative).

Do you love bright lip color, too?

Photo by Daymion Mardel

Signature style.

I've written before about uniforms: I grew up wearing them (Catholic school from grades three-12, baby), and I still tend to wear a sort of uniform every day simply because it's easy—mine's typically jeans and a sweater/blouse (I usually don't wear dresses or skirts unless I have to go to a lunch or event), and it goes from day to night without the blink of an eye. But I'm not always thrilled about my clothes; despite being almost 30, I still struggle a bit when it comes to personal style (see: this post on accessories), although at least I know I prefer vintage-inspired and feminine vs. more sleek and modern—Anthropologie vs. J. Crew, if you will.

But still, I want to take my uniform up a notch.

Enter: The photo above. I love this. I am a huge fan of easy button-down shirts, especially chambray ones (my favorite one has little white polka dots on it), and I love a skinny cropped jean and a great heel. (In fact, a colleague of mine has those strappy heels the woman in the background is wearing, and they are so good. I covet them.) So why don't I wear a version of this more often? I am admittedly note a French Voguette, like these girls, but I don't think these kinds of clothes require you to be. New uniform? Might be worth a try...

Do you have a "uniform," or do you prefer to mix it up?

Photo: Nam/Streetsfn via Net-a-Porter

Max Greenfield for Mr. Porter.

If you know me, you know that my favorite show—well, favorite non-serious show—on TV is definitely, without a doubt New Girl. I've long loved Zooey Deschanel (and I can relate to her character Jess's personality quirks a leetle too closely sometimes), but Max Greenfield's Schmidt is amazing, and I really don't think the show would work without him. So I was excited to come across these images on Mr. Porter. I mean, who doesn't want to look at the occasional picture of a cute, funny boy, you know?

Spring in your step.

You can pretty much wear sandals year-round in Florida (one of the perks of living here), but spring has me thinking about switching up my tried-and-true jeans-and-Rainbows-flipflops routine for something a little more pretty and feminine. These Tory Burch Aileen sandals would be just as sweet with skinny jeans and a T-shirt as they would a flirty dress, wouldn't they? Love.

On skincare.

So, one of the things on my New Year's resolution/before-I-turn-30 list is to take care of my skin, which has admittedly been kind of a hot mess since I was a teenager—we're talking rosacea, sensitivity, blackheads, unevenness, oiliness and dryness, the works. And--this is kind of shameful—until recently, I've always just ignored it. You know, slapped some makeup on, washed with drugstore products and gone on my merry way.

But recently I've started to think that, since I'm getting older, taking care of my skin is probably not a bad idea. The lady who used to do my eyebrows also does facials and the like, as most aestheticians tend to, and she kept telling me I should consider microdermabrasion (to get rid of dry skin) and a facial. The thing is, she also sold me a cleanser that I hated (it didn't cleanse!), was kind of pushy, and the spa—for being as pretty and as fancy as it is—didn't have the best customer service. So I broke up with it and last week went to see a new aesthetician, who came highly recommended by my friend Megan. She suggested a different cleanser (made with organic ingredients) that so far I'm really loving—I'll report back on it in a few weeks because obviously a couple of days is too soon--and she also recommended using pure witch hazel as a toner after washing my face, which I've been making sure to do, too. (Here's the brand of witch hazel I bought; I got a huge bottle at CVS.) I also made an appointment for my very first facial, which I'm embarrassingly excited about. Let's just all hope I don't turn bright red like a tomato afterward.

Anyway, the point to all of this—and maybe this is weird—is to ask about your skincare routine. I know it's all exceptionally personal, but what products do you use and love? Do you invest in skincare products or do you think it's an unnecessary expense? Please share; I love talking about this stuff and would love to know.

P.S. A few favorite beauty products...

Photo: This Elephants

New Baggu.

I've long been a fan of Baggu, purveyor of super cute shoppers, tote bags and pouches, so I was excited to see they've got some new colors/patterns out for spring. Aren't these leather pouches cute? (I'd go for the dots, of course...)

Bangle brigade.

Atlantic-Pacific is my favorite personal fashion blog—I love the way Blair combines colors and textures, and almost every piece of clothing she blogs about is one that I look at and think, "Wow, I wish I owned that, too." (Sometimes that feeling drives me nuts; in this case it doesn't for some reason.) Over the past few months, I've become a bit more comfortable with own style and the style I aspire to have, at least when it comes to dressing nicely for work and social events (let's not get into my weekend look; it could stand to be improved; my boyfriend refers to one of my shirts as my "Sunday stripes"). But I've been kind of averse to the idea of adding lots of accessories. I love the look of an armful of bangles or a big, chunky necklace (or several layered necklaces), though, and so I think this year I'm going to embrace that and try to pile on more accessories. Blair is kind of a master at this, as you can see above, so I've posted three of my favorite photos for inspiration.

In 2013, we will accessorize.

P.S. These Atlantic-Pacific photos were shot in Sarasota, at the Ringling Museum—how fun!

Bike love.

How sweet are these images from the new Free People catalog? They make me want to put on a dress, buy a basket for my bike and fill it with flowers. I'd take that balloon bouquet, too. So pretty.

Via Refinery29